Between October 6 until 13, 2019, an extremely strong and large tropical cyclone, Typhoon Hagibis (meaning “speed” in Tagalog; also known as Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon or Japan Typhoon Number 19 of 2019), caused widespread destruction across its path. It was the strongest typhoon to strike mainland Japan in decades, and one of the largest typhoons ever recorded in terms of its diameter. It was also the costliest Pacific typhoon recorded in history, causing a total of 15 billion US dollars in financial damage.
Japan’s multi-hazard preparedness is globally recognized. During typhoon Hagibis, Japan’s advanced technology made it possible to forecast the risks in detail, and the media efficiently circulated the latest updates in a timely fashion. Strong infrastructure, such as embankments and dams, protected many areas from devastating floods.
However, there were also some areas that could have been handled better. As with previous disasters, Japan’s aging population continues to be a matter of concern, and calls for revision of many policies. The vastness of the affected area was too large for the number of spontaneous volunteers who came forward to help. And because of the scale of the disaster, the management facilities of the disaster waste were overwhelmed and had to shut down temporarily in many areas, which delayed the cleaning activity.
This report examines some of these issues, and summarizes the lessons that can contribute to better preparedness for future disasters
Resource collections
- ADRRN Knowledge Hub
- ALNAP focus topics
- Climate emergency
- Evaluating humanitarian action
- Floods
- Learning from crises (Natural hazards)
- Locally led humanitarian action
- Monitoring of humanitarian action
- Urban Response - Urban Crisis Preparedness and Risk Reduction
- Urban Response Collection - Environment and Climate Change